Jennings, Macaluso sworn into office (VIDEO)

Over the next four years, Councilman Stephen A. Jennings wants to establish a housing strategy, while incumbent Teresa R. Macaluso intends to meet with business owners to see how the city can help them.

The two council members made those intentions known during a noontime swearing-in ceremony Wednesday at the Roswell P. Flower Memorial Library.

They were joined by about 70 family members, friends and city staff in the 30-minute ceremony, presided over by City Judge Catherine J. Palermo.

After being elected in November, Mr. Jennings took the oath of office as the City Councils newest member; Ms. Macaluso is serving a second four-year term.

Repeating a campaign theme, Mr. Jennings said the city needs to do more to improve its rental stock and its deteriorating neighborhoods at the same time new apartment complexes are being built in nearby municipalities.

He is urging council members to stave off further neighborhood deterioration by working with residents, law enforcement, school officials and others to adopt a housing plan.

Im excited to get started, he said after the ceremony.

To prepare for taking office, he met in recent weeks with city staff, Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham, City Manager Sharon A. Addison and representatives of the areas economic development agencies to learn more about how he wants to govern.

During the ceremony, he asked the crowd to give a round of applause for outgoing Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith, who finished third in the four-way race Nov. 10, for all of his years of service.

Both Ms. Macaluso and Mr. Jennings thanked supporters before telling the crowd what they plan to do as council members.

Ms. Macaluso, owner of Brew Ha Ha, 468 Coffeen St., said she plans to get input from small-business owners like her to see how the city can help them. She also looks forward to serving with the councils newest member.

Well work well together, she said. Hell bring ideas to the table.